Leyla, our Student Content Creator, explores how she deals with the experience of burnout.
Following exam season alongside the cold winter months, burnout explains the regular tired feeling and exhaustion. As a solution, some try to stop working entirely and take a break. Yet, after being productive and studying for such an extended period, it is hard to just do ‘nothing,’ and your time gets filled with other, equally tiring activities. The cycle of burnout emerges: constant exhaustion coupled with the desire to keep working and being productive.
Though one size does not fit all, there are several options for how to deal with burnout that begin with the ability to forgive yourself. As a first year, I couldn’t always keep up with the secondary reading for all my modules, and eventually, it was too much to even finish my primary work. I constantly felt guilty for going to socials, or meeting with my friends, feeling as if I must always work to catch up on what I felt too burned out to do. By second year, I was equally tired of the guilt, and therefore welcomed a mentality change.
My friends told me that ‘rest is productive’ too and this was the mantra I adopted. Having guilt-free rest time made me a more productive worker; I actually enjoyed participating in sport clubs, going out and having nights just to myself and was able to keep up with my workload in a timely manner.
Optimal rest and recovery position
The most basic step was making a weekly planner so that I could keep track of my meetings, lectures and seminars as well as block out my non-contact hours. These, I filled with work between the 9-5 period leaving lots of wiggle room if something did come up. However, the second was a series of non-personal questions to carve out time for my hobbies:
1. What is a relaxing activity I can do by myself after working hard all day?
Sometimes, after a period of socialising at university or at sports societies, it is good to reset with some personal time. I found that at least a few times a week, I carve out time to get into bed with a hot chocolate and watch a show that I have been meaning to catch up on. While I equally enjoy watching shows with my friends, having one just for yourself means that you don’t have to wait around for them or compromise your time. If TV is not accessible or your thing, comfort reads are also an excellent way to go. I find having several options on the go is beneficial so I can read based on my mood. Currently, I am reading Remarkably Bright Creatures, a heart-warming story, alongside Babel which focuses on the colonial history of the United Kingdom. Both of these are equally enjoyable but I vary on wanting a light read or an intellectually challenging one.
2. I need a quick 10 minute break from studying…?
My go-to is making hot chocolate. And, as an English literature student, I have one main channel on YouTube that I follow: Jack Edwards. I like his humorous recommendations for books and niche video creation. Watching 10 minutes of his video is enough for me to finish my drink and reset my brain, meaning I am able to continue working. If you are the type who can’t pause halfway, even a little stretch and drinking some water is an excellent break from looking away from the screen, which allows you to rest and refocus.
3. What can I do when I feel anxious that can re-centre myself?
This one can be harder to resolve as it requires some introspection and may change each time. However, my fail-safe is my noise-cancelling headphones. If I am particularly tired after competing or working alongside my degree, I listen to my favourite more gentle music and close my eyes for a while. If I need some free endorphins, I’ll put on the most beat-y fast music I can find to dance to or complete my chores.
It is important to look after yourself, building the mentality that the human mentality does need to rest. If necessary, answering questions about your hobbies can help you find what you enjoy and realise that making time to keep these up.
On the other hand, sometimes burnout can be resolved just by talking it through with an objective voice. For this, please do not hesitate to access the University Student Wellbeing service, talk to your friends, or your Personal Tutor, who are always there to help.
Watch Leyla's video about dealing with burnout